ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Home Affairs
International Drug Syndicate busted; Largest seizure of 20 Kgs of Cocaine, worth Rs. 100 crores, by NCB in India
Sources of 55 Kg of Cocaine and 200 Kg of Methamphetamine, seized in Australia, unearthed; Drugs worth Rs. 1300 crores in International market seized from the cartel
Narcotics Control Bureau’s  Delhi Zonal Unit and Operations achieved a major breakthrough in busting an International and pan-India level drug cartel and has effected the largest catch of cocaine.
The cumulative seizure of cocaine done by NCB in India is around 20 Kgs, having international value of Rs. 100 crores. 55 Kgs Cocaine and 200 Kgs of Methamphetamine have been seized in Australia. The total international worth of the seized drugs from the drug cartel is about Rs. 1300 crores.
In pan India level operations, 5 Indians, 1 American national, 2 Nigerian nationals and 1 Indonesian national have been arrested. Consignments of psychotropic drugs in India were found to be sourced from Canada, Australia and USA. The shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine were sent from India to Australia.
The seizures made by NCB have reflected national and international ramifications which warrants deeper probes to understand the various linkages of these cartels. Looking into the gravity of the offences, NCB has constituted a Special Investigation Team  to further probe links of this network and for launching effective prosecution.
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice-President greets the nation on the eve of Janmashtami
On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to all fellow Indians.
Today, we celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna who epitomises love and devotion. His teachings reaffirm the timeless message of the victory of ‘Dharma’  over ‘Adharma’ . His profound wisdom, as envisioned in the Bhagavad Gita, would serve as an eternal guide to mankind in its pursuit of truth and righteousness.
Let us embrace Lord Krishna’s message of ‘Nishkam Karma’ in performing our duties. May this Janmashtami bring peace, joy and harmony in our lives.
Hindi translation of the Vice-President’s message:
जन्माष्टमी के शुभ अवसर पर मैं सभी भारतवासियों को हार्दिक बधाई व शुभकामनाएं देता हूं।
भगवान कृष्ण, जो प्रेम और भक्ति के प्रतीक हैं, उनके जन्मोत्सव को हम जन्माष्टमी के रूप में मनाते हैं। उनकी कालातीत शिक्षाएं अधर्म पर धर्म की विजय, बुराई पर अच्छाई की जीत का संदेश देती हैं। गीता में उनके द्वारा प्रतिपादित ज्ञान मार्ग सच्चे अर्थों में मानवता की सेवा और कल्याण का मार्ग प्रशस्त करता है।
आइए हम अपने आचरण में श्री कृष्ण के निष्काम कर्म के संदेश को अपनाते हुए अपने दायित्वों के निर्वहन का संकल्प करें। यह जन्माष्टमी हमारे जीवन में शांति, आनंद और सद्भाव लेकर आए, यही मंगल कामना है।
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Indian Men's Hockey Team visits the National War Memorial post their victorious return from CWG2022
Urges every citizen to visit the monument full of inspiring tales of brave martyrs
As India celebrates 75 years of Independence, the Indian Men's Hockey Team, post their victorious return from Commonwealth Games 2022, visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi, which awards an opportunity to every citizen to express their gratitude to the brave martyred soldiers of the nation.
The eleven-member team showed their deep interest in visiting this monument of great national importance which symbolises long tradition of unflinching, loyalty, valour and sacrifice in the line of duty.
With the inquisitiveness of knowing and learning about the glorious history of the country, the team took a tour around the monument and visited the Veerta Chakra , Tyag Chakra , Param Yodhdha sthal etc. Meanwhile, coming over the walls of Tyag Chakra, some of the team members said, “It is really a proud moment for us to see more than 26000 names of martyrs etched here and without missing the chance, we would like to offer our homage to the martyrs of Kargil War.”
Having paid the tribute and saluting the fallen heroes, the squad went on to see the murals of six significant battles fought by the courageous soldiers of the nation. Drawing inspiration from the ‘Chakravyuh’ formation, the iconic National War Memorial boasts of thematic concentric circles with a tall ceremonial obelisk at its centre that bears the eternal flame ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’.
“Like the eternal flame in the Amar Chakra, one of the concentric cirlces, our heroes as well as their act of gallantry will remain immortal in our hearts,” said Manpreet Singh, captain of Men’s Hockey Team.
He also added that with this visit they have realised that the National War Memorial has so much information and knowledge to offer. “We are aware about some soldiers and their act of bravery, but visiting this monument, we realised that there are tales of inspiration about each unsung hero of the country. And we request everyone to take out some time and visit this place to honour the people who have laid down their lives so that we live peacefully. We are inspired and touched.”
Prime Minister's Office
PM to visit Kutch on 15th December and lay Foundation Stone of several development projects
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will undertake a visit to Dhordo in Kutch, Gujarat on 15th December, 2020 and lay the Foundation Stone of several development projects in the State. These projects include a desalination plant, a hybrid renewable energy park, and a fully automated milk processing and packing plant. Chief Minister of Gujarat will be present on the occasion. Prime Minister will also undertake a visit to the White Rann, followed by witnessing a cultural programme.
Harnessing its vast coastline, Gujarat is taking a significant step towards transforming seawater to potable drinking water with the upcoming Desalination Plant at Mandvi, Kutch. This Desalination Plant, with 10 crore litre per day capacity , will strengthen water security in Gujarat by complementing Narmada Grid, Sauni network and treated waste water infrastructure. It will be an important milestone for sustainable and affordable water resource harvesting in the country. Nearly 8 lakh people across the regions of Mundra, Lakhpat, Abdasa and Nakhatrana talukas will receive desalinated water from this plant, which will also help in sharing the surplus to upstream districts of Bhachau, Rapar and Gandhidham. It is one of the five upcoming desalination plants in Gujarat besides those at Dahej , Dwarka , Ghogha Bhavnagar  and Gir Somnath .
The Hybrid Renewable Energy Park near Vighakot village in the district of Kutch in Gujarat will be the country's largest renewable energy generation park. It will lead to the generation of renewable energy to the tune of 30 GW. Spread over 72,600 hectares of land, the park will have a dedicated hybrid park zone for wind and solar energy storage, as well as exclusive zone for wind park activities.
Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of a fully automated milk processing and packing plant at Sarhad Dairy Anjar, Kutch. The plant will cost Rs 121 Crore and will have the capacity to process 2 Lakh Litres of milk per day.
Prime Minister's Office
PM bows to the venerable Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to the venerable Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said "I bow to the venerable Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day. His thoughts and works reflect the immense knowledge as well as wisdom he was blessed with. People across generations have been positively impacted by his ideals. I urge more youngsters across India to read the Kural."
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Prices of petrol and diesel
The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today informed that Prices of petrol and diesel are market-determined with effect from 26.06.2010 and 19.10.2014 respectively. Since then, the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies  take appropriate decision on pricing of petrol and diesel in line with their international product prices, exchange rate, tax structure, inland freight and other cost elements. The prices of petroleum products in the country are linked to the price of respective products in the international market. However, the Government continues to modulate the effective price to consumer for Subsidized Domestic LPG and Retail Selling Price of PDS Kerosene.
With an aim to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel and give relief to the consumers, the Central Government reduced the Central Excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs.5 per litre and Rs.10 per litre respectively with effect from 4th November, 2021. Many States/UTs have also reduced VAT on petrol and diesel subsequently.
The details of self sufficiency of crude oil and natural gas based on consumption of petroleum products for the last three years are as given below:-
|
|
Year
|
|
Self sufficiency 
|
|
Crude oil
|
|
Natural Gas
|
|
2018-19
|
|
16.20
|
|
52.70
|
|
2019-20
|
|
15.00
|
|
47.17
|
|
2020-21
|
|
15.60
|
|
45.80
|
|
2021-2022

|
|
15.00
|
|
50.70
.
Ministry of Defence
INDIAN NAVAL SHIPS VISIT SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA
Indian Naval ships Delhi and Satpura, under the command of Rear Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, departed Sihanoukville, Cambodia on 14 May 23. The three-day port call demonstrated India’s cordial ties and rapidly growing cooperation with the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Apart from social interactions with senior dignitaries from the Defence ministry and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Personnel from both navies engaged in a wide range of professional interactions, cross deck visits and friendly sports exchanges.
Training sessions on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief  and firefighting were also conducted. The ship was also open to visitors and members of the Indian diaspora in Cambodia were provided a tour of the two ships.
The successful port call has enhanced mutual understanding and strengthened the bonds of friendship between the two navies.
VM/PS
(Visitor Counter : 899
Ministry of Science & Technology
Chintan Shivir on “CRTDHs Empowering MSMEs” will be inaugurated tomorrow at CRTDH-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute , Durgapur supported by DSIR
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research  has initiated to organize "Chintan Shivir-CRTDHs Empowering MSMEs" at all 18 CRTDHs across the country with an aim to improve linkages between CRTDHs and MSMEs, startups, and innovators. Two Chintan Shivirs in this series have been successfully conducted at the DSIR-CRTDH facility at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur  and Indian Institute of Toxicology Research , Lucknow. In continuation to this, the third "Chintan Shivir” will be hosted at Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute , Durgapur along with DSIR.
The event will start with a remark of Dr. Naresh Chandra Murmu, Director, CMERI, Durgapur and an overview of Chintan Shivir by Dr. Sujata Chaklanobis, Scientist-G & Head-CRTDH, DSIR. Dr. Sujata Chaklanobis and Dr. Naresh Chandra Murmu will release a video during the ceremony featuring the infrastructure created at DSIR-CRTDH-CMERI, Durgapur. Senior officers from DSIR, Dr. Ranjeet Bairwa and Dr. Suman Mazumdar, as well as Dr. Sudip Samanta, PI-CRTDH, Shri S. Y. Pujar, Coordinator, CRTDH-CMERI, and their team will attend the event. Participants during this significant event will also include delegates from Chambers of Commerce and Industry Associations, as well as representatives from Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises .
The thematic sessions of the event on an overview of futuristic technology interventions at CRTDH-CMERI, Durgapur will be delivered by Dr. Sudip Samanta followed by summary of activities undertaken at CRTDH-CMERI, Durgapur to strengthen MSME Connect & Opportunities by Shri S. Y. Pujar. The thematic session will continue to a “Samvad” for outlining the major problems faced by MSMEs, startups, and innovators as well as discussing potential solutions from the CRTDH. These sessions will primarily focus on the role of CRTDH in supporting MSMEs to achieve their R & D goals. Representatives from industry organizations, MSMEs will also provide their perspectives on the challenges and role of CRTDH in meeting their R&D goals. The programme will conclude with a brief tour of the CRTDH facilities, which will be led by the guests and delegates.
This Chintan Shivir will be an interactive session with the attendees from MSMEs/Startups/Innovators, representatives from industry associations and the team of DSIR-CRTDH-CMERI to identify potential solutions for the problems faced by them. This will be a step towards making India a significant industrial R&D and manufacturing hub.
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SNC/PK
(Visitor Counter : 681
Vice President's Secretariat
The Vice-President appeals to citizens to make water conservation integral part of daily lives, says Jan Andolan will accelerate Jal Andolan
Reinvigorate traditional water harvesting structures through the 3Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, says the Vice-President
Vice-President calls upon public representatives to make water conservation a priority and lead by example
Conservation of nature is an inalienable facet of India’s civilizational ethos- Vice-President
The Vice-President confers the 4th National Water Awards
(The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today appealed to all citizens to make conservation of water an integral aspect of their daily lives, so that the spirit of Jan Andolan can accelerate the cause of Jal Andolan.
During his address at the 4th National Water Awards at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today, the Vice-President also called for reinvigorating our traditional water harvesting structures such as johads  through renewed commitment to the “3Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.”
Congratulating the winners for their exemplary work in the field of water resources management, the Vice-President called upon all public representatives at the Panchayat, State and National level to make water conservation a priority and lead by example.
Drawing attention to Constitutional provisions such as the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Duties that emphasize on the conservation of water and environment, the Vice-President highlighted the transformational impact that Government initiatives such as Jal Jeevan Mission are having on the lives of ordinary citizens.
Noting that conservation of water has always been an inalienable facet of India’s civilizational ethos, the Vice-President said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure the wise use of nature’s gifts. “Natural resources utilisation has to be as per our optimum necessity,” he stressed.
At the 4th National Water Awards Ceremony, which was inaugurated by the Vice-President by a symbolic Jal Kalash ceremony, 41 winners were felicitated across 11 categories.
The Vice-President also inaugurated a short film featuring the animated character Piku, the mascot of the National Water Mission, to be telecast on Doordarshan for amplifying the message of water conservation.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries, Shri Bishweswar Tudu, Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs, Shri Pankaj Kumar, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and other senior officers from the Ministry of Jal Shakti were also present on the occasion.
The text of the Vice-President’s address is available on the link below.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1933040
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Foreign Trade Policy extended for six months
The government has received requests from Export Promotion Councils and leading exporters that we should continue with current Foreign Trade Policy , which had been extended from time to time.
In recent days, exporters and industry bodies have strongly urged the government that in view of the prevailing, volatile global economic and geo-political situation, it would be advisable to extend the current policy for some time, and undertake more consultations before coming out with the new policy.
The government has always involved all stakeholders in formulating policy. In view of this, it has been decided to extend the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, valid till Sept 30, 2022 for a further period of six months, w.e.f. October 1st , 2022.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
SCHEME FOR WELFARE OF MINORITY COMMUNITY
The Government implements various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of every strata, including minorities, specially the economically weaker and lesser privileged sections of the society, through various schemes of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Rural Development.
Ministry of Minority Affairs specifically implements various schemes across the country for socio-economic and educational empowerment of the six  centrally notified minority communities. The schemes/programmes being implemented by the Ministry are as under:
 Educational Empowerment Schemes
 Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
 Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
 Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme
 Employment and Economic Empowerment Schemes
 Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan 
 Equity to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation  for providing concessional loans to minorities.
 Special Schemes
 Jiyo Parsi: A scheme for reversing the population decline of Parsis in India.
 Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme  and Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana .
 Infrastructure Development Schemes
 Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram 
The details of the funds released for last three years in the Schemes under which the funds were released to the beneficiaries under DBT mode are as below:
|
|
S. No.
|
|
Name of Scheme
|
|
Total funds released 
|
|
1
|
|
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme
|
|
4001.37
|
|
2
|
|
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme
|
|
1353.45
|
|
3
|
|
Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme
|
|
1027.74
|
|
4
|
|
Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme
|
|
247.50
|
|
5
|
|
Padho Pardesh Scheme
|
|
56.77
|
|
6
|
|
Nai Udaan
|
|
20.13
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
Success Story: NSIC helps Madhubala become financially independent.
Ms. Madhubala hails from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Under MSME’S NSIC, she completed her fashion designing course for 1 year and learnt cutting and tailoring work.
This helped her set up her own boutique and become financially independent. She says, ‘I learned alot about fashion designing like cutting and tailoring etc. under NSIC training course. It has helped me alot and now I have my own boutique called Madhubala Boutique and I am able to make around Rs 10,000 per month.’
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
200 cr Total Vaccine doses  have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
4,46,671 doses administered in last 24 hours
India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,44,264
Active cases stand at 0.33%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.47%
16,069 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to
4,30,97,510
16,935 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
86.96 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 2,61,470 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Implementation of AB-PMJAY in Kerala
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana  is being implemented in Kerala with effect from 01.04.2019. Details about the implementation of scheme, as on 20.11.2019, are as under –
- Mode of Implementation- Insurance
- 34.48 lakh families are entitled to get benefit under AB-PMJAY and State scheme.
- 381 hospitals empanelled under scheme including 179 Public and 202 Private hospitals.
- So far 5.97 Lakh admissions under the scheme.
Government of Kerala had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement AB-PMJAY on 02.11.2018. However, since the State was already implementing the Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, launch of AB-PMJAY was delayed till the end of the policy period under RSBY i.e. 31.03.2019. Thereafter, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding  between the Government of Kerala and Government of India, AB-PMJAY was launched in the State on 01.04.2019.
Before the launch of AB-PMJAY, Government of Kerala was implementing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana and state scheme Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. With the launch of AB-PMJAY – Karunaya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi , both the pre-existing schemes have been subsumed in it.
The Minister of State , Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
Unique Scientific Exercise
Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission , has launched a unique pilot project named “Project BOLD”  on 04.01.2021, from a tribal village Nichla Mandwa in Udaipur district of Rajasthan, which is an arid zone, to fulfil the combined national objectives of preventing land degradation, reducing desertification and providing livelihood and multi-disciplinary rural industry support to the people living in dry/arid and drought-prone regions of the country. The objective of this initiative is to scientifically harness the environmental benefits and economic potential of bamboo cultivation to protect environment and strengthen rural economy through various village industries.
There is no budgetary provision for this project under KVIC. However, bamboo saplings have been donated by an NGO that have been brought from Assam, while the plantation is done by KVIC under “Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan”. The maintenance of the plants is done by the local community and/or Border Security Force  and Indo-Tibetan Border Police  with whose assistance the plantation has been done at several places.
No targets have been set for this project as it is a pilot project only.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.